The copita question: Exploring alcohol consumption among Latina women

J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2023;22(4):755-765. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2021.2019161. Epub 2022 Jan 1.

Abstract

We explored whether Dominican women underreport alcohol consumption according to questionnaire wording and examined factors associated with their alcohol use through structured interviews in Spanish. We measured consumption with the word "alcohol" and with the common colloquialisms "copita/trago/vinito." We used logistic regressions to examine associations between alcohol consumption, demographics, and alcohol-related norms. Of 419 female participants, 411 completed alcohol-related questions. Most (n=343, 83.5%) were current drinkers and 88 (21%) reported having never consumed alcohol but also that they occasionally drink a "copita/trago/vinito." This indicates alcohol use is potentially underreported among Dominican women. Alcohol-related research should incorporate culturally sensitive language to improve accuracy.

Keywords: Drinking behavior; Latino; alcohol consumption; cultural norms; gender.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking* / epidemiology
  • Alcohol Drinking* / ethnology
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / ethnology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Supplementary concepts

  • Dominican people